Wichita eagle., 1887-10-22

this village as In church burSt oFeu toe
doors. il it is necessary, and once moro hurry
up."
That captain had the tone firm and his
face expressed anger and deteI mipation; his
men, old African souaves and Turcos, en-
ragged fighters, were not apprentices in the
art Of building barricades- In less than
quarter Of an hour the street was made im-
passable by cars Of manure, mattresses,
doors. shutters; in fact, everything bulky
was employed for that purpose.
The captain, who had picked up gun on
the battlefield, was reloaiing it when . tall
man with pale face approached him.
Excuse me. captain; ere you the oficer IN
commandT'
"Yes"
believe, me, sir, renounce to defend this
village against an enemy twenty times-l0o
times-more numerous than you are; YOU
shall not be successful, Of course, and you
will cause our village 70 be set on fire by the
Germans"
The captain looked at hts interiocutor with
an immense expression of disgust
@Wbat do YOU says VIII you go away
mighty quick. or else shall send you to-
And the captain took the man by the neck
and was in way TO strange him when a
tall old man with white hair emerged from d
house near by.
"I-et him go, captain, hs is not worth the
strangulatIon; my name Is Pierre and ! am
q vine dresser" said the old man. addressing
the officer. Then, turning TO the coward, be
added: go 70 your home, monsieur the
mayor; If you are unwilling to do your duty,
at least do not prevent others 10 accomplish
II. You see, captain, that mayor Is q mon
sdeur from the city, sent TO US by the impe-
rial government; all his fortune is in this
village. in which he owns several buildings,
and if the Germans set them On fire he shall
be ruined. am myself in the same case; IL
my cabin is destroyed do not know what
will remain for my granddaughter Jacque-
line But what do you want, siri France,
our country. before anything"
The captain was touched and removing
bis cap he said to the patriot:
"You are a brave man, and God bless you
"And an old soldier replied the vine
dresser. Strengthening himself; there is my
Gross Of the Legion OF Honor given to me by
the emperor himself, the great Napoleon!
Now, captain, il you have a gun to lend me
will show you that know how TO handle
itr
At this moment lively musketry was heard
from the other side Of the barricade. Tho
Germans were coming
The village was deserted by its inhabitants,
women. children, cripples and old people had
departed. taking with them everything they
could carry.
The able bodied men were in the army.
The battle began; the bullets whistled in the
air and fiattened themselves against the walls.
The French held the place well. and Papa
Pierre the vine dresser, bareheaded. his hair
to the wind fired his gun bravely. while his
granddaughter loaded the hrepiece after each
discharge
Suddenly a bombebell burst at ten yards
from the barricade
"Sacr- de D. r. exclaimed the captain.
@they bomhard Us now. IN ten minutes We
will have TO so in
He had not time to end his phrase when .
second pcojcctiie passing through the roof Of
the shelter covered him and bis soldiers
with dust happily no one was wounded.
alone Ja,ri.-iine had uttered @ cry The
emotion 60. t.o. much for the young girl
she faiut,d
"Yoa iI-.,t retire, captain" said Papa
Pierre t. 80, ufficer but will remain here.
have Sore el~tridges left, shall fire. them
Of Go"
"Nevef' - aimed the captain We shall
die here
II tell you to retire: you are responsible be-
fore God and before the country Tor the life
Of your men To remain here Is simply mad
ness and 40, bravery. How can you defend
this village with guns against hhtus. with
twelve men against SOOT
at is better 10 die On French Sol IT, dshting
than In German prison.
"Bu, you Will not 10 taken Leave irBme-
diat.ly that barricads that you cannot bold
any longer Turn on the right when you
refuge In The forest
And your"
III / am to- old 10 walk"
We shall carry you
mo. thanks: III this village was born; In
this village | want 70 die Besides that,
confde my Jaoquelins 20 you. captain. Have
you any children yourssifF
-Four
Then arm tranquil Oh her fate. Adieu,
captaini Adieu, soldiers. my young com
rsdss, and Wv. la Francsl'
IL.
The Germans advanced. TIE firing had
decreased on tbe French side. all a, ono u
ceased completely Papa Pierre had no rsore
cartridges l.-ft
II. opened bis door, entered hi. cabin,
threw = glance on the likeness Of his grand
daughter, then oH q wooden cTucifix and
awaited the enemy.
One by one the Germans climbed over the
barricade
"Ab' there De h, the old devil, exclaimed
q six foot corporal; Il was sure OF SEEING hirn
firing at Us
That corporal. Hermann by name, had b>~n
a workman in the village OF Chaiii- for years,
I'D be knew every inhabitsnt intimately
A colonel, pCsbinz IA : ~ay through his soi
di-r>. ssid to Papa Pierre:
SLOW your hands, man
the old mai. showed his handA Thsy we're
black with powder.
XIII Tim" yelled the officer
Hermann thrus, his bayoost Ia the breast
OF the old man A moment Papa Pierre
staggered on hs iegs, thso fell face down
ward
The brave patriot, The valiant soldier vas
dead
-Quicx-briuz some strswi- cried the Of
Scer Let rs h1rn ths. village re did Bs~
leiile That viii teach . lesson % thoss r2s-
Gals u Frenchnsn
Hermann had not left the bouse. Be lighted
g candle and descended into the cellar
Ar la he ~as % &c good drink o.
Papa PserTes vine TIE old scoupdreI: 70 10
was be who bad resisted his conarsd-s 20 long
AID Killed 10. fs~ Of them BE tad DO re-